FAQs Virtual Policy Chats

• Rhine-Main-Universities: Goethe University Frankfurt (coordinating institution), Technical University of Darmstadt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany).
• BETA Technological Center at University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (Spain)
• University of Granada (Spain)
• Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic)
• Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
• University Lumière Lyon 2 (France)

The virtual meetings with the researchers occur in different constellations: Some policymaking professionals like to cover specific questions during the meetings (e.g., "How do smartphones affect the reading skills of kids in primary schools?"). Other policy professionals prefer focusing on "big questions" (e.g., "How is digitalisation changing our daily lives?"). Some policy professionals like to gain an overview of new topics they are not familiar with (e.g., "How do algorithms work?"). 

You are also welcome to name specific institutes, research projects, or scientists in the topics that interest you. During the virtual meetings, it is also possible to discuss current research trends in certain subject groups (e.g., current research trends in the life sciences) or future developments (e.g., “What technological developments can be expected in the next 20 years? How will we live in 50 years?").

How many experts we identify depends on the type of questions/policy issues we receive and the amount of submissions we receive. For example, suppose a policymaking professional is interested in the issue of environmental protection in the Mediterranean. In that case, we will focus on our experts at the partner universities in France, Italy or Spain. We might turn down very specific questions requiring us to conduct time-consuming research. Also, we might turn down questions so general that the lists would compile hundreds of researchers (e.g., how is digitalisation changing economies and societies in EU countries)?

We cannot guarantee that the requested virtual meetings will take place. We are happy to ask the researchers for virtual meetings, but they will decide whether they will accept the requests.

Please submit 1-2 different overarching questions or areas of interest. Please add at least five sub-topics or sub-questions to each overarching question or area of interest. The overriding questions or areas of interest must align with your organisation's policy issues. The questions or areas of interest have to be related to the issue of green and digital transitions.

Example:
1. Area of interest: Reduction of energy consumption

1.1 What technical options can be used to save energy in buildings? 
1.2 How can energy consumption in road transport be reduced? 
1.3 What impact do energy taxes have on energy consumption in companies? 
1.4 How can energy-saving behaviour be encouraged in children? 
1.5 What role does the issue of energy consumption play in party programmes and election campaigns?

Please check whether your questions can be phrased in more general terms to identify many possible experts. Also, consider whether geographical, temporal, or thematic restrictions can be omitted.

Example "Environmental protection in Frankfurt since 2015" is a particular topic. To enlarge the pool of possible experts, it is advisable to formulate the topic more openly, e.g., "Environmental protection in cities."

You are welcome to ask the researchers for possible policy recommendations. Please note that the researchers' knowledge about policymaking varies. We have researchers who follow policy issues very closely. Many have already conducted commissioned research for ministries or other policymaking institutions. Some might be members of expert bodies. However, for some researchers, the virtual chats will be their first contact with policymaking professionals.

To reach many researchers, we recommend not phrasing the questions from the perspective of your organisation.

Example: Instead of "How can my organisation make better use of social media to inform young people about sustainable finance?", we recommend asking more general questions such as "How do young people use social media?" or "What should young people know about sustainable finance?". Instead of "How can the European Commission or international organisation promote the use of energy-efficient technologies in companies?" it is better to ask questions such as "What factors explain the use of new (energy-efficient) technologies in companies? How can the use of energy-efficient technologies be promoted?" 

Background: Researchers sometimes do not know the specific contexts in which the respective policymaking institutions operate. They are more likely to decline meeting requests if they lack prior knowledge of these contexts. Therefore, it is better to phrase the questions in more general terms. During the virtual meeting, you can inform your conversation partners about your policy-related work and move from general to specific questions.

We also ask policymaking professionals to remember that university research usually differs significantly from policy analyses conducted by think tanks and consultancies. "How can a ministry/agency/general directorate/international organisation, etc., do something better?" is usually not the starting point for university research projects. The topicality of research questions also plays a different role in universities than in think tanks or consultancies. Suppose researchers have not already developed policy recommendations as members of expert bodies or via policy reports in the past. In that case, they may do so for the first time during the virtual meeting with the policymaking professionals.

We do not expect the participating policymaking professionals to have a scientific background. These informal virtual chats are often policymakers' first meeting with our researchers. We ask all policy fellows to prepare for the meetings by visiting the websites of their conversation partners before the meetings to gain an overview of their interlocutors' expertise. 

We recommend asking the following three questions to prepare for the meetings: 

• How does my conversation partner relate to my areas of interest? 
• What questions would I like to ask? 
• What can my conversation partner learn about the policy issues I am dealing with? 

Please spare some 30 minutes to prepare for each meeting.

Six of the eight ENGAGEgreen universities completed science-policy dialogue projects funded by the EU. 

Goethe University Frankfurt, Technical University of Darmstadt, and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
have been running joint policy dialogue projects for almost a decade. They have organized about 3,000 meetings between 350+ policymaking professionals from the European Commission, international organisations (OECD, OSCE, UNEP, World Bank Group, EBRD), and national and regional ministries, with more than 700 of our researchers. 

The BETA Technological Centre of the University of Vic-Central
aims to promote the research and innovation in the environmental and sustainability fields, mainly of rural territories. It works to be a useful actor for various sectors: the agri-food sector, the public administration, the academic world and civil society, with the idea of advancing together to improve the quality of life in rural areas.
It has worked with a multidisciplinary scientific approach that will enable it to address the complexity of the main environmental, social and economic challenges from the perspective of the circular bioeconomy.

The University of Granada specializes in the integration of science and public policy with a specific focus on territorial challenges, many of which are highly relevant on a national and European level. The University has developed scientific advisory programs within the province of Granada, which has a population of one million, and also extends its work to the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Additionally, it is expanding its territorial engagement programs across the region of Andalusia, in Spain and internationally through the participation in European projects. The University boasts over 3,600 researchers, with some areas of expertise ranking among the top in international rankings. Moreover, with over 55,000 students, the University also creates significant opportunities to connect science and public policy through student-led initiatives and research efforts.

At the Université Lumière Lyon2, the ENGAGEgreen project is supported by the University's Science and Society Department, whose purpose is to strengthen the University's position at the heart of society. One of its 6 development priorities is to structure the political and strategic commitment to science and society. This aims to amplify the University's political and strategic commitment to science and society and to stimulate a cross-disciplinary dynamic within the Institution. 
The ENGAGEgreen project is also cooperating with other formats at the University, as well as highlighting the specific nature of research at the Université Lumière Lyon 2, in particular by relying on the “Pôles de Spécialités" clusters, the two partnership chairs and the University's Science Shop to follow up projects linked with local authorities.

Palacký University Olomouc has extensive experience in collaboration with the city of Olomouc and the Olomouc Region through various scientific projects, contract research, supervision of theses, seminars, workshops, and hackathons. These initiatives not only foster strong partnerships and contribute significantly to regional development and innovation but also influence policy making, ensuring that research outcomes are effectively integrated into local and regional policies.